Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Papeete
DIY Score
Easy DIY
Check the last Moorea ferry time before you board it; don't miss it.
Tender or Docked?
Usually docked at the Papeete passenger terminal, right in the city. The Marche de Papeete is a 2-minute walk and the Moorea ferry terminal is 7 minutes on foot.
How to Get Into Town
Already docked in town: the Marche de Papeete is a 2-minute walk. The Moorea ferry terminal is 7 minutes on foot from the cruise berth.
Main Attractions
The Marche de Papeete, the Moorea ferry, and Pointe Venus. Papeete itself is an urban city, not a beach resort; the dramatic lagoon scenery most people picture is on Moorea, 30 minutes by ferry.
How Much Time You Need
8+ hours for a comfortable city day; 10+ hours to add Moorea. A shorter call is still worthwhile for the market and waterfront.
Keep in Mind
The Moorea ferry stops running around 5pm. If you miss the last ferry back, getting to Papeete in time for all-aboard becomes a serious and expensive problem.
Safety & Comfort
Safe and easy during the day. Papeete is one of the more relaxed and comfortable Pacific port cities; petty theft is the main concern, primarily at the market.
Tips from Cruisers
"I expected Papeete to look like a travel brochure and was mildly surprised it is a real city with traffic and supermarkets. But th…" — by Isabelle F.
Sources
- Musee de Tahiti et des Iles - Entry Fees
- Tere Tahiti - Bus in Tahiti (Practical Tahiti)
- Aremiti Ferry - Official Site
- Marche de Papeete - Things to Do in Papeete
- Tahiti Tourism - Musee de Tahiti et des Iles
- Papeete Cruise Port Guide - What's In Port
- Aremiti / Moorea Ferry - Far and Away Adventures
- Moorea DIY Ferry Guide - Mike and Laura Travel
I expected Papeete to look like a travel brochure and was mildly surprised it is a real city with traffic and supermarkets. But the market is genuinely beautiful and the view across the water to Moorea in the morning is the most incredible thing. Even if you don't cross, just stand at the waterfront and look at it.
We did not check the Sunday ferry schedule. There were far fewer ferries that day and we panicked trying to get back from Moorea in time. We made it, but only just. If your ship is in on a Sunday, check the Aremiti website the night before. Do not assume the same schedule as a weekday.
We took the Aremiti ferry to Moorea and rented scooters on the other side. The lagoon at the main beach on the north coast was everything we had hoped for. The water is unreal. Cost us just over $100 for both of us including the ferry and the scooter. The ship excursion was $280 each.
Stayed in Papeete with the kids since our call was only 8 hours and I did not want to risk the ferry timing. Did the market, had lunch at a cafe on the waterfront, walked to the waterfront black pearl stalls. My daughter loved the market. It was a pleasant, low-stress day.
The market early in the morning is just wonderful. I got there at 7am and it was already in full swing. I bought vanilla pods, a pareo, and had a bowl of poisson cru from one of the food stalls. The raw fish with coconut milk was one of the best things I ate on the whole trip.